Touch signal level



Filed Nov. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 ll i u ff-Z Homzonl l5 i Itj Z7 11 y cQMPAss @4&4

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TOUCH SIGNAL LEVEL June 7, 1949. F. H. HAGNER 2,472,420 Y TOUCH SIGNAL LEVEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1944 Emil June 7, 1949. F. H. HAGNER TOUCH SIGNAL LEVEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 28, 1944 Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATESl 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an azimuth recording sextant and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient instrument for measuring the altitude or depression angle of an object or celestial bsody relative to the position of an observer, and simultaneously recording its azinnuth, and at the same time measuring the degree of tilt of the instrument in two directions at right angles to each other, one of which is in the direction of the body being observed.

This invention relates to a level-indicating device and has for one of its objects the production of a leveling device for determining true horizonltal and vertical planes by the sense of instantaneous touch as caused by the contact of moving objects with the skin of the hand, lingers and the like, of the observer through the mental perception of a stimulus of the sensory nerves.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear throughout the following specieation and claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the instrument in use for observing the sun and the horizon;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the instrument in use for measuring the angle of a star with respect to the eye of an observer and its azimuth;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the instrument in use for observing a reflection of the sun, and using the leveling device to keep the instru-ment level by a sense of touch;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the instrument;

`taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line I--ID of Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the ball and compact locking mechanism;

' Figure 12 is a to-p plan View of the compass which is carried in the top of the leveling device; Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line I3-I3 of Figure 6;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the instrument illustrating the lower end 'ably extend to the outer end Vthe sleeve 25 and extends ATENT OFFICE of the angle-measuring arm and the index reference glass, the glass being partly shown in section.

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the lock-releasing Wedge and associated parts.

Figure 16 is `a side elevational view of the instrument mounted upon a conventional compass;

Figure 17 is a transverse sectional View through the leveling device illustrating a sound contact at the end of the ball race or channel;

Figure 18 is a transverse sectional view. illus- Ytrating an electrical contact at the ends ofthe ball-contacting channels; y I Figure' 19 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the leveling device illustrating a suspended or pendulum indicating'means.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I5 designates the quadrant oi the instrument, which is provided adjacent its curved edge with -a luminous scale I6. A horizon sighting reference block I'I is carried at the lower forward edge of the quadrant I5 atthe bottom of the scale I6. This reference block I1 is provided with a longitudinal reference slot I8 which is in line with the bottom end of the scale I6 and in line with the pivot I9 of the angle-'measuring arm 20. This pivot I9 is located at the lower rear clorner of the quadrant I5, as shown in Figure 4.

The arm 20 is provided with an overhanging -outer end 2| which straddles the outer curved edge of the quadrant I5, as shown, and a notched plate 22 is carried by the overhanging outer end 2|. This plate 22 rides .over a curved marking strip 23 upon the opposite side of the quadrant relative to the scale I6, so that theA operator may mark the position of the notched plate 22 upon the marking strip 23 'when taking a series of observations and may then calculate a mean angle of the arm 2li and the observed object. The arm 20 is longitudinally slotted on each side, as at 24, to receive the inwardly turned ribs of telescope-supporting sleeve 25.A The slpts 24 preferof the arm 20 so that the sleeve 25 may be reversed to observe an angle Vof depression. A suitable friction flat spring 26 may be carried by the sleeve to contactthe arm.

-20 and hold the sleeve 25 in an adjusted position A telescope 21 is carried by longitudinally of the arm 2li, as shown; The arm.20 Vmay be swung to the desired degree of arc on the quadrant I5 to Aobtain a` proper observance of an object to meas,-

upon the arm 20. l

ure the angle. A hinged index-reading glass28 is carried by the inner end of the arm 20 and may be selectively swung into and out of alignment with the telescope. The glass 28 is provided with a reference point :or aperture 29 for alignment with the center sight of the telescope 21 and this reference point 29 is preferably surrounded by a reference circle 3|]l which may be etched in the glass 28.

A leveling device A is carried -by the quadrant I upon the opposite side relative to the arm 20 and extends in a vertical position in spaced relation to the quadrant plate I5. This leveling device comprises a tube 3| which is supported at its lower end by a base 32, which base is anchored at the lower end of the quadrant l5. The tube 3| is braced near its upper end by an anchoring brace 33, and a cap plate 34 which cap plate overhangs the upper end of the tube 3|. The tube 3| is provided with a ball-receiving channel 35 which extends in a horizontal plane transversely of the quadrant |5. A second ball-receiving channel 36 is located in the tube 3| above the channel 35 at right-angles to the channel 35 and in a plane parallel to the quadrant I5. The tube 3|, and the cap plate 34 are formed of transparent material and the inner faces of both channels 35 and 36 are graduated with a scale 31 preferably from zero at the center to 3 or 4 degrees toward each end. A ball 38 is freely mounted in the channel 35 and a ball 39 is similarly mounted in the channel 36. The ends of the channels 35 and 36 are restricted as to size as shown in Figures 8 and 9, to permit the balls to protrude slightly beyond the tube 3| when reaching the endsy of" the lchannelsand at the same time be prevented from falling from the channels.

As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, when the tube 3| is gripped by the hand of an operator, the thumb B overlies one end of the channel 3B, the tip of forenger C overlies the opposite end of the channel 36, the tip of middle nger D overlies the inner end of the channel 35 and the hand adjacent its junction with the middle finger overlies the opposite end of the channel 35. Consequently, when the tube 3| tilts forwardly the ball 39 will contact the finger C, and if reversed the ball 39 will contact the-thumb B. If tilted toward the right the ball 38 will contact the middle linger D, and if tilted toward the left the ball 39 will roll to the opposite end ofthe channel 35 and contact the palm of the hand E adjacent its junction with the middle finger. By means of this device an operator may determine whether or notr the instrument is in a proper vertical position through the sense of touch and' by moving the instrument so that all balls will be out of contact with his hand he will know that the instrument is approximately l'evel. The balls may then be locked in their positions when proper reading or observation is taken and the positions of the ball 38- and 39 may be noted relative to the respective scales 31 and proper calculations may' be made to allow for the positionoi?y the ball or balls in variance with the zero mark on the scale or scales 3'1. The

locking device will be described in the following:

A compass dialplate 48 is carried in the rotating, cap member and is xed therein. 'Ihe cap member 4|V however,` rotates upon the upper end of' tube 3| and is retained under the. xed cap plate 34. A vertical fixed pivot pointl 42I is car- 'ried atthe center of the dial' plate 4|1i` and. a magnetized compass needle 43 is looselyfjournal'ed upon the point 42, which point 42 extends upwardly and well into the knob 441which: knob is carried by the needle 43. A clamping plate 45 loosely surrounds the point 42 and is supported upon the heads of the spring-pressed pins 46. These pins 46 are attached at their inner ends to the supporting plate 41 to which is loosely connected the depending operating pin 48. This pin 43 is slotted, as at 49, to receive the double wedge or tapering end of the spring-pressed plunger 58. The tapering end of the plunger 58 also extends through the slotted end 5| of the upwardly extending pin of the ball-locking mechanism 52. Ball-contacting shoes 53 are carried by the locking mechanism and overhang the balls 38 and 39, and springs 54 normally urge the lockingmechanism to a locking position.

As the plunger 5U is pressed inwardly, the wedge of the plunger will pass through the slotted ends 49 and 5| drawing the pin 48 downwardly and lifting the ball-locking device upwardly to release the ball-locking mechanism. The plate 45 will drop away from the needle 43 and the knob 44 will drop down to a journaled position uponA the pin 42 out of contact with the under face of the cap plate 34 and then be free to register due north. When the plunger 58 is released the plate 45 is forced upwardly by the spring-pressed pins 46 which plate 45 engages the under face of the needle 43 and forces the knob 44 firmly against the under face of the cap plate 34, in this way locking the needle in a set position. At the same time the springs 54 will force the locking mechanism 52 to a ball-locking position. The position of the needle may then be read in its locked position and the position of the balls in their e'spective channels may be read upon the scales It should be noted that the reference slot I8 of the reference block |1 is preferably provided with a black coating upon the inner faces or walls (see Figure 13) to facilitate the sighting of the horizon therethrough, in the manner as shown in Figure 1. The reference block |-1 and the leveling device A are preferably constructed of transparent material.

It should be understood that many types of ball-contacting means may be provided at the ends of the ball-receiving channels of the leveling device. Two modied forms are illustrated in Figures 17 and 18.

In Figure 1'? a sound contact plate 55 is shown. A plate 55 is supported at each end of the ballreceiving channel 31a so that when the ball 38a reaches the end of the channel 37a the striking ofthe ball with the plate 55 will produce a sound, thereby indicating tothe observer the position of the ball.

In Figure 18 there is shown a modiiied form wherein an electrical contact 56 is located at the end of the channel 311. A suitable contact is placed at each end of each channel. The contact 56 is connected to a suitable signal which may be located in any desired position to notify the operator that the ball 38.b has. reached the end of the channel.

In Figure 19 it will be seen that a casing 5.1 is provided having openings 58; near the bottom thereof, and a. pendulum ball 59 is hung within the casing 51. The fingers and hand of an operatol-'are adaptedA to surround the openings 58 so as to provide afeeling contactwith the ball 59 asthe ball swings intol engagement' with the handr or iingers when the casing 51 is tilted thereby'advising theoperator by the. sense of touchLto move the leveling' deviceito; a. proper position. to bring the ball '59 out of contact with the hand or fingers and into approximate zenith position.

In actual operation when it is desired to measure the angle, for instance the sun, with respect to the horizon, the instrument is held in the position as shown in Figure 1, and the arm 20 is contacted at its outer end by the ngers of the operator and the arm is swung to a position where a reflection of a ray of light from the sun passing through the telescope 21 onto the reference point 29 of the glass plate 23 is brought into alignment with the eye of the observer and the slot I8 of the block I1 and the horizon. The observer maintains the instrument at its zenith point and determines whether or not the instrument is approximately perpendicular by means of the position of the ball in the lower channel which eX- tends at right angles to the horizon. While this is being accomplished the needle 43 is free to swing to find its magnetic north. The thumb B, as shown in Figure 7, is then released from the push button or plunger 5i) and the needle A3, as well as the balls 38 and 39, are instantaneously locked. The observer may then take the reading as indicated on the scale I6 which is the altitude or zenith distance of the body. Then he may take the reading of the position of the needle 43 in reference to the arrow 3a on the cap plate 34, Which will give the observer the azimuth of the body being observed from magnetic north. A correction may then be made to determine the true north. The observer may then read the position of the ball 38 with respect to the large arc 31 by determining the position of the equator of the ball with respect to the markings on the scale 3l to indicate the degree of correction with respect to the zenith or the lateral tilt of the leveling device.

If desired, a series of observations may be made and the position oi the arm 2li at each time of observation may be marked upon the strip 23 as at 23a-see Figure 'l-and an average taken by placing the center notch 22 over the center point intermediate the extreme positions of the marks.

When it is desired to directly observe a star or other object, the instrument is held in the position shown in Figure 2, and a direct observation is made through the telescope 21. It is necessary, however, for the operator to grip the leveling device A in the manner as shown in Figure 7, and also in detail in Figures S and 9, whereby the iingers and hand surround the leveling device A and span the ends of the channels 35 and 36 so that he may feel the Contact of the balls when the leveling device is tilted in any one of four directions. The instrument is then adjusted so that the balls will be out of contact with the hand or ngers and the observer then knows that the instrument is approximately at zenith. His thumb B is in the position shown in Figure 7 in contact with the spring pressed plunger 5B so as to depress this plunger and permit the magnetic needle to be free to move and permit the balls to be free to roll. When the object is sighted, the plunger 5l) is immediately released, thereby locking the needle and the balls in the position at the instant of observation. A proper reading of the scale I6 may then be taken, a proper reading of the positions of the balls 38 and 39 in their respective channels may be taken, and a proper reading of the position of the magnetic needle may be taken and with these calculations a correct azimuth or zenith distance may be accurately obtained as well as the azimuth bearing of the body being observed with reference to magnetic north. Then proper corrections may be made as may be required.

When it is desired to observe an object, for instance the sun, by means of casting a ray of light upon the glass 28 and its reference point 29, the instrument is held in the position shown in Figure 3, it being braced by the right hand and the leveling device A being gripped by the left hand and the instrument being forced against the body. The ngers of the right hand are extended along the periphery of the arc or quadrant 5 in Contact with the outer end of the arm Zii for slow motion and the arm is then adjusted or moved until a ray of light from the sun passes through the telescope and is castl upon the reference point 253' in the form of a circle of light which the observer can observe, and which circle of light will be in line with the observers eye. In this way the observer has provided a means for determining when the ray of light is cast upon the reference point in the manner shown in Figure 3. At the same time, the leveling device is gripped by the hand of the operator in the manner described in the foregoing with respect to Figure 2. At the proper time of observation, the plunger 59 is released and the leveling balls and the magnetic needle are locked for proper inspection.

As shown in Figure 16, the instrument may be placed upon the top of a compass and the arm 2E may be swung to the necessary angle and the operator may proceed in the same manner as that described with respect to Figure 3, and this offers a means for checking the compass upon which it is resting.

It should be understood that when the device is used in the manner shown in Figure 2, the glass plate 28 is swung flat against the arm and out of alignment with the telescope 2i or to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure lei. This' glass plate 28 is frosted on the upper face thereof to facilitate seeing the light spot upon the surface thereof. Furthermore, it should be understood that all marks, scales and the like, are luminous, so that they may be read in the dark without artificial light. It should be further understood that each of the channels 35 and 3K5 is formed on the arc of a circle of considerable magnitude and for this reason it is only necessary to mark a few degrees within the length of the channel to 'provide accuracy.

While I have shown my leveling device as applied to a quadrant it will be understood that this leveling device may be used separately cr in conjuncture with other apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The leveling device may be provided with any desired number of ball-receiving channels which may be arranged at various selected angles and should not be restricted to the use oi" two channels as illustrated.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

A touch signal levelling device for use when visibility is impossible comprising a body having a transverse elongated channel, a freely rollable gravity-controlled ball rollable throughout the length of the channel, said body having restricted openings at the opposite ends of said channel of less diameter, than the diameter of the ball through which said ball is adapted to protrude when the body is tilted, the restricted openings preventing the displacement of the ball from the body, said openings being adapted to be covered by the hand of an operator, and said ball being adapted to signal the operator by sense of touch unoncontact withv the-hand: thereby 'signalling the operator that the levelling device devates from the zenith point.

FREDERICK HAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesr are of records in the le' of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 216,759 Randolphl June 24, 1897 466,380 Spencer Jan. 5, 1892' 715,823 Letz Dec; 16', 1902 814,292 Hutchins Mal'. 6, 1906 845,675 Lewis Mar. 5, 1907 963,242 Osterberg July' 5, 1910 1,010,339 Angel' Nov. 28,1911

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